Tag Archives: blogging

12.13.12
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Vote Today for My Post as the Top Youth Ministry Post of 2012

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With your help, I have made the top 34 of the list of best youth ministry blogs of 2012. I need you to go vote again. With a new round, it means new votes so if you have already voted, take just a second and go vote again if you would.

 

Click here to vote!

 

10.04.12
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How to not run out of blog post ideas

Have you ever sat down to do some writing about blog posts, and came up with absolutely nothing. In my short time of blogging, this has happened to me many times. If the experts say that you need to be blogging every day or at least every other day, how can you consistently come up with that many blog posts? Will you run out eventually? I want to give you a few ways of how not to run out of blog post ideas:

  1. Keep Reading- One of the top ways that generate my blog posts are books! Recently, I have been trying to read a book every 2 weeks, and it has generated a lot of ideas and interest in me writing my own thoughts down. As long as books are being written, blog posts can come as a result.
  2. Subscribe to similar blogs- I mostly write about social media, student ministry, and church life. These are my passions. I subscribe to tons of different blogs in these specific categories that I read from each week. When I do this, it generates ideas for my own blog posts.
  3. Stay passionate in what you write about- This is extremely important. If I lose my passion for student ministry, it will be much more likely that I stop writing about student ministry, but if you stay passionate about it, you will have something to write about it, because it is your passion and drive!
  4. Make note when potential blog posts come to your mind- I have a working note in my phone entitled, “Blog Post Ideas.” Anytime at home or at work when I think of a possible blog post, I put the title in my phone so that I can remember it for later. If you are like me, you will get to doing other things, and totally forget about that great post that you thought of. So, do not do that, write it down or record it in your phone.
  5. Do not be afraid to share other people’s ideas/resources- If you look at arguably the top student ministry blog (morethandodgeball.com), you will find Josh Griffin’s posts, but he regularly shares other guest posts and resources. If we are not careful, we feel that we ourselves have to personally write a blog post for every day when sometimes part of having your personal blog is sharing some other posts from some great voices out there outside of your blog!

I am still new to do this blogging thing, but I am learning more and more that blogging takes time, effort, and discipline. If you do not have these three things, or are just not willing to give these three things, blogging might not be for you!

08.20.12
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How to Increase Blog Traffic

I have blogged for about a year and a half, and over that span have learned a little bit about blog traffic! Now, I will be the first to admit that I do not have all of the answers to your blogging questions, but I have learned a bit about building your own platform in the blogging world. I want to share a couple of thoughts first, and then give you some practical ways to increase your blog traffic.

Do not blog totally for traffic- This is hard to do! I am not saying that this is not important, and that you should not check your traffic, but if that is the only reason you are blogging, find a deeper reason to blog. Blog about what you are passionate about, and people will enjoy that more rather than just blogging about what others want to hear.

Increasing traffic is not as difficult as it seems- Now, this statement might get some negative feedback, but honestly, it is not that difficult. You can get readers if you know how to get readers..That is where the steps below can help!

How to increase your blog traffic:

  1. Blog Consistently- This is something that I had to learn the hard way. I was frustrated, because people were not regularly visiting my blog when I was not even blogging. Why would they if you are not working at blogging? They have no reason to come back if you are not posting regularly. Now, blogging takes a lot of time, and I understand that. Set aside like 2-3 hours a week for just writing, and schedule your posts, and it will make your life much easier. You say, Josh, how often do you recommend posting? I would say a minimum of 4 times a week to build a good group of followers. BTW: if you are expecting your weekend traffic to be as large as weekday, you are mistaken. Weekends are normally when I take a break from blogging.
  2. Share on social media- This is easy and a well-known tip, but share frequently. I share my posts on twitter, facebook, google+, and LinkedIn. Now, I change the wording of the “share” to fit the readers on those sites. Do not copy the same exact post, and share on each of these sites. Make them original. Also, I am involved in student ministry groups on facebook, and I regularly share in there as well. On twitter, use hashtags with what the post is about.
  3. Tag every post with several different categories of what the post is about. People searching will come across your site if you tag it well.
  4. Use your blog to connect and network with others- This has sparked the largest traffic increase than anything on this list. I blog primarily about student ministry, church life, and leadership. So, I have used my blog to network with guys in these areas! I have networked with them via twitter, commenting on the posts, google+, and facebook groups. When you network, you build relationships, and those relationships give you credibility for people to visit your site more often.
  5. Comment- Respond to every comment that is posted on your blog! I encourage you to ask a question at the end of your posts, or do something to make sure that the reader knows that you desire comments and feedback. Also, comment on other blogs. Normally, bloggers have a reader of some sort that organizes the different blogs that you follow. I use google reader, and I go on there once a week, and read through the posts of other guys, and I comment on them regularly.
  6. Write for others- This has taken the longest time for me to get off the ground, but I have started recently writing for others. It makes your life busier, but it will increase your traffic! I write for several other sites other than my own, and it has increased my traffic significantly. Find places looking for guest posts, and

These are just a few of the ways that I have built my own platform using my blog.

[Question]: What are you doing that is not on this list to build your platform specifically speaking of blogging?

06.19.12
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Enter for a chance to win “Viral” by Leonard Sweet

My friend Jonathan Pearson is giving away the book, “Viral” on his blog. You can enter to win this book by just checking out the blog, leaving a comment, liking his facebook page, etc. This book is about social media, and how it relates to ministry. The book shows how social media can help ignite revival. I encourage you to head over to his blog today, and enter for your chance to win, “Viral.”

Click here to enter for your chance to win!

02.09.12
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Guest Post: 10 ways to generate more blog traffic

Michael Hyatt is the chairman of Thomas Nelson publishers, the largest Christian publishing company in the world. If you click on the link, it will take you to his personal blog which you MUST check out. It is incredible. If you want thoughts on leadership, social media, technology, or blogging, he is a great guy to reference. I have been doing a lot of his reading lately, and he has blown me away lately with some of his posts. I have been so impressed with his thoughts on these subjects that I decided to share some of his stuff this week on my blog. He posted a blog that will interest you as it did me. It is entitled 10 ways to generate more blog traffic. Check it out:

“10 Ways to Generate more blog traffic” by Michael Hyatt:

“Whenever I speak on the topic of platform-building, someone always asks, “How can I generate more traffic for my blog?” Most are hoping I have a silver bullet, something that will instantly get them the recognition they deserve.

The bad news is that it’s not quite that simple. Rome wasn’t built in a day and neither is a platform. It takes doing several things right—and doing them over a long period of time.

The good news is that it’s not rocket science. I have used these basic techniques to increase my blog traffic every year since I started tracking it in 2008 using Google Analytics. Some years have been better than others, but all have shown an increase:

Year Pageviews Increase
2008 574,778 N/A
2009 1,496,241 160.3%
2010 1,972,497 31.8%
2011 5,060,331 156.5%

Based on my experience, I believe you can dramatically increase your blog traffic by following these ten suggestions. (Forgive me if I cover some of the basics.)

  1. Write content worth sharing. Nothing I suggest in 2–10 below will compensate for weak content. If you are not writing stuff people want to read, smarter marketing will not fix the problem. Begin by creating a killer headline that makes people want to read what you have to say. Read Advertising Headlines That Make You Rich. It’s my secret sauce.
  2. Adhere to a consistent schedule. You can’t expect to increase your traffic if you don’t blog regularly. By this, I mean at least once a week. Three times a week is even better. Five times a week is best—but not if the quality of your content suffers. Frequency equals visibility.
  3. Get your own domain name. Make it easy on your readers to pass along your blog name. What do you think is easier, “yourname.wordpress.com” or “yourname.com”? This is the foundation of branding and making your blog memorable. If you can get your name or a short phrase, it is worth paying (within reason) to do so.
  4. Include your blog address everywhere. In the beginning, you are adding readers, one at a time. You never know when someone with a bigger audience will quote you or link to you. Include your blog address in your email signature, on your business cards, and on your stationery. It should appear virtually everywhere your name appears.
  5. Make it easy to subscribe to your blog. You don’t want to depend on your readers to remember to come back to your blog. Instead, you want them to subscribe, so they get every new post you write. They should be able to do so by either RSS or email. (Use both.) Position these two buttons prominently so that those who want to subscribe don’t have to hunt for them.
  6. Optimize your posts for SEO. You want people to be able to find you when they Google one of your key words or your name. I use two WordPress plugins for this: All-in-One SEO Pack and ScribeSEO. The latter analyzes every blog post you write and suggests how you can optimize it for the search engines. It is not cheap but worth every penny.
  7. Utilize social media. If you want to build visibility for your blog, you must go where the people are. In days gone by, people gathered in the marketplace at the center of the city. Today, they gather online in places like Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Google+. Which service is best? The one you will use regularly. Use social media to network, build relationships, and announce new blog posts.
  8. Engage in the conversation. Start by making it easy for your readers to comment. People today want to participate. I recommend the Disqus commenting system. (It’s what I use.) Don’t make them register. This only adds friction. Engage in the conversation yourself, reading your comments and replying as appropriate.
  9. Comment on other blogs. As you read other people’s blog posts, leave comments. I’m not taking about spamming people with invitations to read your blog. Instead, engage in the conversations that interest you and build credibility. Make sure that you register with their commenting system if possible, so there is always a link back to your blog.
  10. Write guest posts for other bloggers. Frankly, this is not something I have done. But most successful bloggers swear by it. Jeff Goins wrote a guest post for me on this very subject. He claims that it grew his own blog traffic more in six months than in the last six years. (If you are interested in guest posting on my site, here are myguidelines.)

You will also want to use a good, SEO-optimized blog theme. There are hundreds on the market. I use StandardTheme for WordPress and love it.

Finally, be patient. Building traffic takes time. Like anything else, the ones who win are the ones who stay at it after everyone else has quit.”

Yeah, gold, huh? I thought so at least. Well, if you have any thoughts, you know what to do, comment below.

02.07.12
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Guest Post: How many blog posts should you write each week?

Looking to increase your blog traffic? Here are some helpful hints for all of you bloggers out there. This is a post that I stumbled upon entitled, “How many posts should you write each week” by Ali Luke.

“How many posts should you write each week” by Ali Luke

“When I started blogging, four years ago, many experts advised posting daily – to increase traffic and keep readers hooked. And many popular blogs do post every day (at least on weekdays).

Should you post every day, though?

Probably not.

Why?

Because:

  • If you write two posts each week instead of five (or seven), those posts will be much better written.
  • If you only post once or twice a week, you’ll usually find that you get more comments on each post.
  • If you don’t post too frequently, readers may actually read every post, instead of one in five.
  • If you don’t use up all your ideas in the first few weeks of blogging, you’re more likely to be successful in the long-term.

I normally recommend that bloggers aim for somewhere between three posts a week and one post every two weeks. Any fewer, and it’s hard to build engagement; any more, and you may find it difficult to keep up the quality.

Reducing Your Posting

What can you do if you’re currently producing five posts a week, Monday to Friday, and you want to cut back?

I’d suggest you simply change your blogging schedule, without even announcing it. Post on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, or on Mondays and Thursdays. If you’re really concerned about reader reaction, then let people know your reasons: you want to provide higher-quality content, and the best way for you to do that is by focusing on just 2-3 posts per week.

Chances are, your readers will accept the change without any objections at all.

Increasing Your Posting

If you currently post once a month or less, you need to increase the number of posts you write.

Don’t make a sudden resolution to write three times a week, or you’ll quickly burn out (and you may well overwhelm your readers). Instead, work up gradually. Plan to post once every two weeks, then once every week, and so on.

Over the long term, quality trumps quantity. Sure, publishing loads of blog posts in a hurry may get you some quick attention and traffic – but it’s not going to help you build up a solid business.”

Ali Luke is a writer and writing coach, and has a weekly DailyBlogTips column on content creation. If you’re struggling to get enough writing done, check out her free ebook How to Find Time for Your Writing.

12.31.11
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What I have learned in my first year of blogging

I am completing my first year of blogging. I sure hope that my blog has been a help and an encouragement to you. I hope that you have been challenged and educated about student ministry, leadership, and church life.

Blogging is a great way to record your thoughts for others to see. It is an easy route to express yourself. Blogging has been around for years, but in my opinion has developed even more over the last couple of years especially in the area of ministry. I began a blog about 3 years ago for our student ministry, and no one ever checked. I thought that it was legit, and I updated it regularly, but it was not big at all. Now, blogging is huge. I regularly read other blog posts about student ministry and leadership. Blogging is an art that you have to learn. Through this process, I have learned several things about blogging. Here are a few of them:

  • Blogging is an excellent way to record your thoughts- I am a naturally passive person. I struggle sometimes articulating my thoughts in such a way for people to understand and to grasp. Then, I started blogging, and I have slowly found myself articulating my thoughts much more clearly.
  • Blogging is a great way to train volunteers- I have used my blog to put down thoughts about youth leaders. Several of the leaders in our student ministry have read my posts, and been challenged to change something in their life to better fit the role of a youth leader. I was not even going for this, and it worked. What a resource that we can use for easy and quick training for our leadership.
  • Blogging is growing- The more that I have gotten into blogging, the more that I have seen it grow. I have come across many blogs that I did not even know existed. Blogging is much bigger than I thought, and it is growing.
  • Blogging is a commitment- The number one reason that people do not read your blog is probably because you are not blogging consistently. This is something that you have to commit too. Blogging takes a great deal of dedication from the writer. You must be dedicated before entering the blogging world.
  • Blogging is work- It takes work to think of a new thought to pen down for others to read. It takes time and effort to keep the blog up to date, and to make things professional.
12.29.11
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7 Tips on creating a Popular blog

I tried blogging several years ago to help build our student ministry, and it fell through. I thought that I could use the blog sort of like a website for our student ministry. So, I did, and it ended up being like 2 people that regularly checked it. That is not what I wanted so I disabled the blog all together. Back in February of this year, I began another personal blog. This blog was going to be about student ministry, leadership, and church life. These are three things that I regularly discuss and write about. I also share resources and helpful articles that pertain to these three things as well. I began blogging unsure of where it would take me. I thought that I could throw a few thoughts out there, unsure at or if anyone would read it. No one did at the beginning, but over time, I have acquired several regular readers of joshhevans.wordpress.com. I want to give you a few helpful tips on creating a popular blog:

  1. Find your niche – This is very important. For instance, I mentioned above, I write specifically about three things: Leadership, student ministry, and church life. 99% of my blog posts pertain to these three topics. Finding your niche is tough to do. Find what you want to write about, and write about it. Do not just blog to blog, blog with a purpose in find. Find your niche, and write about it.
  2. Blog consistently – If one thing aggravates me (I have been guilty of this) is a blog that has not been updated. I hate seeing a blog that the most recent post was from 3-5 months ago or possibly longer. If this is the case, you will not have readers look at your blog regularly. You want people to check out your blog regularly, and this will be a great way to do it. Blog every couple of days at least. This is where people go wrong, they begin blogging, and forget to update the blog. Keep it updated.
  3. Use links – At first, I never used the links, and now I do. If I mention another writer, book, or blogger, I link to their site. This is a great way to build connections with others. Also, many people will comment back and thank you for sharing their blog or article.
  4. Share on twitter & facebook – I always tweet and facebook my posts. This is a great way to share to all of your friends and followers.
  5. Use relative hashtags on twitter – If I blog about student ministry, I always use the hashtags: #stumin & #studentministry. So, when people look at these trends, they will come across your blog and check out the blog post. When I started doing this, my readers immediately increased.
  6. Tag your posts – I always tag my posts so that people can search for the topics and hopefully come across my posts. I use between 2-4 tags for every post so that I can carry the main topics of my posts for bloggers to come across.
  7. Share your blog posts in facebook groups – This is extremely helpful with student ministry. I am in a couple of student pastor groups, and I always try and share my post in their. I usually blog about topics that we are discussing so it is relative to them and their ministry. This is an easy way to get your post out there for readers to see.

Beginning a blog is a dedicated process. It is a process that you have to be committed too long term if you would like for it to become popular. If you have any other thoughts, or would like some more information on blogging, send a direct email to joshhevans@gmail.com or like always feel free to comment!